Entertainment

12 Actors Who Have Portrayed Iconic Activist Martin Luther King Jr.

On April 4, 1968, civil rights leader and icon Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered just one day after delivering his legendary “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” address at Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee.

On that day, the world lost a revered leader in the fight for equality, but King’s legacy lives on in history and pop culture.

A number of actors, including King’s son Dexter Scott King, have paid homage to the slain hero through pop culture, carrying on his legacy in film.

From David Oyelowo to Courtney B. Vance, here are 12 actors who have portrayed Martin Luther King Jr.

1 of 12

Getty Images

James Earl Jones

The legendary actor portrayed the activist in the 1982 miniseries Freedom to Speak.

2 of 12

Paul Archuleta/Getty images

LeVar Burton

Burton portrayed King in 2001's Ali.

3 of 12

Albert L. Ortega/Getty images

Jeffrey Wright

Wright brought King to the screen in the 2001 TV movie Boycott.

4 of 12

Nelsan Ellis

The late actor played King in Lee Daniels' The Butler.

5 of 12

Moses Robinson/Getty Images

Dexter Scott King

King's son portrayed his father in 2002’s The Rosa Parks Story.

6 of 12

M. Phillips/Getty Images

Clone of Robert Guillaume Dead at 89

Guillaume, who passed away in October, played King in 1985's Prince Jack.

7 of 12

Getty Images

Clone of David Oyelowo

Oyelowo received praise for his portrayal of King in Ava DuVernay's Selma.

8 of 12

VCG/Getty Images

Samuel L. Jackson ‘72

Jackson brought King to the stage in the Broadway hit The Mountaintop.

9 of 12

Pacific Press/Getty Images

Courtney B. Vance

Vance played King in the TV miniseries Parting the Waters.

10 of 12

Pacific Press/Getty Images

Malik Yoba

Yoba played the iconic activist in 2013's Betty & Coretta.

11 of 12

Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Clifton Powell

Powell portrayed King in ABC's Selma, Lord, Selma.

12 of 12

Jim Smeal/Getty Images

paul winfield

The late actor portrayed King in NBC's Emmy-winning three-part series King.